Blessed in Order to be a Blessing

No matter how little we may have we still have more than someone else:  and we can still give.  

As I watched a little girl who lives in a small room in our church with her mom, dad and little brother give a gift box to a child in the orphanage, that is the thought that crossed my mind.  The little girl, Jessie, in our church was perhaps giving to a child more than she herself would be receiving for Christmas.  But Jessie....having very little material things.....is very rich.  She has the love of her mom and dad and a family of which to belong.

Once a month we have around 70 children from an orphanage come to our church to share Sunday school with us.  The families in our church were asked to pick at least one name of a child to buy things for and load them in to a box to give them last Sunday when the children came.  For me it was such a day filled with emotion.  So many needs.  So many hurts.  So many children who need love.  

Our church, not a church of high resources, gave and gave abundantly.  Our own children were so excited about picking out the gifts for the children we had selected and for the first time really realized what it meant to be an orphan.  Caleb said, "you mean they don't have anyone to give them a goodnight hug and a goodnight kiss?".....and many more questions.   Now comes the teachable moment to explain that were were all orphans chosen by God to be part of His family.

Aaron's Story

Each of these children has a story.  I learned of Aaron's.  (He is pictured below).  Aaron was abandoned at the public hospital at birth.  Perhaps because he wasn't given much time to live.  Perhaps because he may never be able to walk.  He was announced on the news at four months of age that this baby lives in the hospital and they were seeking his parents.  The orphanage saw it and went to get him to bring him to his new home.  He is now four years old and through therapy is talking well and has improved with his asthma.  He cannot walk.  He has some deformities in his feet....I am not sure if perhaps that could be fixed with surgery.  Regardless....this little boy hung on to his precious box for dear life.  We are realizing these gifts are the only ones they will receive during this Christmas time.  One just wants to love on these kids and just hold them and take them all home!

I am not sure why I tell you these stories.  But Jessie impacted me.  Little Aaron impacted me.  We can all give.  We live in a hurting world where the best gift of all is the HOPE of Jesus.  "It is more blessed to give than to receive" Acts 20:35

 "I tell you the truth, whatever y ou did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me"  Matthew 25:40

 Reading the Bible story during Sunday school which was held outside to accommodate all the children.

 Many of the children have special needs.  This boy is now able to walk a little more than he had before.

 A dear, sweet woman in our church just loving on the kids.  The little one on the left, Mercedes, cried the entire morning and we don't know why :(

 This was the room being prepared to feed the children their special Christmas meal and our church's kids were ready to give the gifts!

 Marisabel, the pastor's daughter looking over the list of names.

 Now that's a lot of rice!

 Look at the stack of gifts!  So exciting as our kids lined up to give the gifts!

 Little Aaron holding his gift.

 The kids were told not to open their gifts until later.  So hard to do!

 Lining up to give the gifts!

 The kids in the orphanage sitting up front after receiving their gift!

These special kiddos are called "Corderitos" :)  Little lambs .